The Penn's Grove record., 1887-07-02
SHE HAD HER WISH.

'It's got to be done, fust as well as
last, C~ar'linel"
"Car'line, a young and not uncomely
woman, despite her rags and CRIME,
answered listlessly: well, Jim, l
s'pose it'll hev to be as you say"
She was sitting on the decayed door
sill of an old stone house. Dirt. squalor
and shiftlesness were everywhere APP
apparent, and she and Jim fitted their
environment perfectly. Down in a
| corner where a fence once had been
was a wild rose-bush. and close beside
it, with Il of the dainty flowers in her
hand, sat a dirty, ~unlovely child.
Car'line turned her dull black eyes
toward her, and Jim, who was a thick
set, anlmal-faced man, followed her
glance.
''She amt a handsome one, is she,
Car'Iine-our little daughter? she's
good tur nothln' but to eat an git into
mischief ginerally. Now, It's jist as
plain as day we've got all we can do to
take keer on ourselves an old nanny.
We've got to git out Of this shanty-
old Sammis is goin' to tear it down
over our heads-old rascal he isl an
faint convenient TRAVELLING with a
baby without a nursegal."
He laughed at his Righteousness, but
was vexed to find Car'llne unrespon-
sIve.
$50 I'll take her to a big boarding
house where she'll have good llVin' at
the expense Of rich folks. Come here,
l sayl''
The child scrambled to her feet, fear
manifest in every motion. She STUN
bled over a stone, but, though hurt,
picked herself up without a whimper.
The man caught and held her roughly
as she came near him, shrinking pitt
full away from his grasp.
"See here, Car'llne, they'll think we
are keerless to her. Give us a rag an
some water. Now you go put her buds
together"
lie dabbed the little soiled face with
the rag, then wiped 1t with her dirty
dress.
"NoW you are clean as abutton-just
fit to say goodbye to your nanny"
He lifted her to his shoulder.
"Haint got no auds, eh? Well, l
didn't think she'd need a Saratogy
trunk. Say goodbye to her, Car'line."
The something that served Car'line
for her heart felt a strange thrill as she
looked up at the frightened face, saw
the pleading, outstTetched hands, heard
the wailing 'Mammyl mammyI"
"Best set her down, Jim, she seems
ter feel bad bout it."
mo, Car'line, here goes TO the
boardin'-house. Save your eye drops
IN a bottle, Car'linei'
The woman turned shortly and went
into the house. An old crone, seeing
her, looked up and %quayered:
"What's goin' on?n
''Jim's took the young one to the
poor-house," answered Car'line, sui
lenly.
r II
81 declare, Lady. if you have not cast
POUR shoel Whoal'' and Violet Fem,
springing from her phaeton, ran back
to pick it up. She returned flushed and
smiling, and took the pretty bay pony
by the bride. "It's a coincidence,
Lady, that there is Il blacksmith just
here. l might as we'll have it set right
away; but l believe you are collision
with the SMITH"
There was nothing doing in the little
| 1OluSiIO 1O1kC1 pNollNoO hbo dIlts anu
the smith sat on a log beside a collsc-
tlon Of old wheels, reading a paper. He
was thin and underslzed, quite unlike
the brawny, traditional workman. He
looked sharply up at Violet and the
turnout, briskly rising, as II work were
a relaxation.
at won't take long," he said, as he
took Lady from the thills; ''but you
might go over to the house and set till
tits done. Here, Pete, come work the
bellowsl"
A s~andy-haired boy started up from
covert, and Violet strolled across the
road to the yard, where a limpid spring
dubbed beneath a grand old oak. A
dipper hung on its trunk, and taking 1t
down, she drank thirstlly. SIT IS the
best water / ever tasted she said, as
she re-hung the dipper. Then she saw
near her a ragged, bare-footed girl who,
leaning on a spade, was watching her
| In astonishment.
"What a forlorn, ~unlovely creature!"
she thought; then she smlled-and Vio-
let's smile was rarely sweet-on her.
"How do you dop" she said pleasantly.
"How do you doy" said the child,
solemnly. "Air you a'vlsitin'2"
"Oh no; ] am having a shoe put on
my horse"
The red.rImmed, llght-lashed eyes
continued to inspect her 50 soberly that
she smiled again.
81 should think spadiug was hard
work; why doesnt't your father do It
or somebody"
"Why, he amt my fatheri" cried
the child. nodding towards the shop.
"He's Nate Kelly. l only live here.
l hain't got no folksl"
She looked as if she had nc folks
poor thing!-in her, tatters and CRIME.
"Poor child" Violet said. Her look
seemed to the child life "a caress; she
came a little nearer, as If moved to tell
the short, barren history of her life.
you see, l come from the poor-'us.
My folks put me there when l wer' not
three year old. My folks was too poor
TO keep me. Miss Kelly took me out'n
the poor.'us a spell ago."
"What is your manner"
"My names B~ixby-that was my
folks name. To the poor-'us they
called me little Bixby. Pm short fur
age, but III grow"
"How old are you?'
81 don't know; Miss Kelly knows?n
well, what can you do for Mrs.
Kelly?"
The freckled face frightened.
II kin do constable jobs. l scrubs.
an milks, an ehurns, am forks the
manure, an spades, an weeds garding,
AM washes. am tAnds hahias an1-D